Smokeless Tobacco Product Warning Labels

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires that smokeless tobacco packages and advertisements have larger and more visible warnings. Smokeless tobacco includes tobacco products such as moist snuff, chewing tobacco, and snus.

Every smokeless tobacco package and advertisement will include one of the following warning:

WARNING: This product can cause mouth cancer.

WARNING: This product can cause gum disease and tooth loss.

WARNING: This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.

WARNING: Smokeless tobacco is addictive.

For smokeless tobacco packaging, the warning must be located on the two principal sides of the package and cover at least 30 percent of each side.

For advertisements, the warning must cover at least 20 percent of the area of the ad.

The new warning labels must begin to rotate in advertising for smokeless tobacco products beginning on June 22, 2010, and must be distributed and displayed on the packaging of smokeless tobacco products manufactured on or after June 22, 2010.

Starting July 22, 2010, manufacturers may not distribute any smokeless tobacco product unless its packaging complies with the new warning requirements.

These changes aim to increase awareness of the health risks associated with smokeless tobacco use.